Well sealing head



y 1932- M. VALLENDOR ET AL 1,859,345

WELL SEALING HEAD Filed March 13, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS MAX L. VALLENDO/Z BY P UL C-FLY ATTORNEY y 1932- M. L VALLENDOR ET AL 3 9, 4

WELL SEALING HEAD Filed March 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS MAX L. l/ALLZ/VDOR BY PAUL O- FLY ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAX L. VALLENDOR AN D PAUL C. FLY, OF VENTURA, CALIFORNIA WELL SEALING HEAD Application. filed larch 18, 1930. Serial No. 435,478.

Our invention relates to well appliances, and relates more particularly to sealing heads adapted to be applied to the upper. ends of oil well casings for preventing the troublesome and dangerous gas and oil blow-outs resulting from abnormal gas and oil pressures which frequently occur or develop during the drilling and operation of wells.

The objects of our invention are: first, to

provide a sealing head or blow-out preventerfor wells which is very simple and economical of construction; second, to provide a sealing head of this class which may be easlly attached and held in place at the upper end of a well casing, asealing head of this class which can be easily and quickly manipulated for sealing the well, and one which forms an efficient seal against the escape of fluid from,

thewell; third, to provide a device ofthis class wherein the pressure developed wlth n the casing is utilized for producing a fluid pressure ti ht joint between the sealing elements and rill tube and the bowl or housing which forms the body of the sealing head; fourth, to provide a device of this class having movable closing or sealing elements so constructed and arranged that, when not in their sealing positions, they will in nowise' interfere with the normal operation of the drill string, pump rods, or the like; fifth, to

provide novel construction and mounting of Y and for the sealing elements of the head; sixth, to provide novel' and simple means for forcing the sealing elements out of the way.

when not in use and for holding such sealing elements in their 'out of the way positions; seventh, to provide novel, sim 1e and efiicient means for quickly forcing t e sealing elements into their sealing positions; and,

40 eighth, to provide as a whole a simple, prac-' tical, and effected blow-outpreventer or sealing head for wells which-is durable and which gill not readily deteriorate or get out of or- With these and other objects in view, our invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arran ement of parts and ortions, as will be hereinafterdescribed in etail and particularly set forth 5 in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is. a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through one form of our well sealing head, showing the same secured to a well casing and the sealin elements in sealing position around the drlllcasing, and also showing by dotted lines the sealing elements in their inoperative position; Fig. 2 is an upper end view thereof, showing certain'parts and ortions broken away and in section to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 3 is an upper sealing elements in their sealing position;

Fig. 7 is a' fragmentary sectional view taken through 7-7 of Fig 2, showing the relation of the sealing elements and the supporting means therefor; vFig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through a modified form of construction of our well sealing head; andFig. 9 is an elevational view of the modification of our well sealing head shown in Fig. 8 withremote control means therefor, parts being broken away.

Like characters of reference refer to similar arts and portions'throughout the views oft edrawi gs. In the preferred embodiment of our invention, as illustrated in'the drawings, our well sealing head is substantially enclosed within a casing comprising essentially a lower casing member or .bowl 1, a sleeve 2 movably mounted at the upper end of the member 1, and a cap 3 at the upper end of the sleeve. The lower end ,of the casin member or bowl lis flanged, and is secured y bolts i to the upper side' of a flanged plate 5 which is screwed to g the upper en of the well casing 6.

The casing member '1 consists essentially of 9- a lower bowl portion 1a and a tubular portion 1b of smaller diameter positioned above and 1e of relatively slight angularity. The lower end of the seat 1e is joined with the cylindrical inner wall of the bowl portion 1a by a downwardly diverging conical .surface of greater angularity, the latter surface being desi nated 1f.

ithin the casing or enclosure of our sealing head are mounted a plurality of sealing elements. These sealing elements consist of depending arms 7 and yieldable and resilient sealing members 8 secured to the lower end of the arms. The arms 7, there being preferably three in number, are each provided with an outwardly extending lug 7 a at the upper end, an enlarged portion 7?) in the form of a circular ring sector at the lower'end, and a substantially straight shank'portion 70 inter: mediate and connecting the lug and enlarged portion. The lugs 7a, which extend radially outwardly relative to the vertical axis of the device, are provided adjacent their inner ends with supporting and fulcrum pins 9. The lugs 7 at the upper ends of the depending arms freely fit into recesses or notches 10a in an annular support 10 which rests at the upper end of the sleeve 2. The annular support 10 includes a pair of superimposed annular plates 10b and 100 which are provided "at their adjacent sides with grooves 10d which extend to the opposite sides of the notches or recesses 10a, as shownin Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Into these-grooves extend the ends of the pins 9 which form pivotal supports for the sealing elements, the lugs 7 a being permitted to freely pivot about-the axes of the pins 9 with in the grooves 104. The plates 10 and 10 of the annular support 10 are held together by the cap 3 which is screwed to the upper end of the sleeve 2. The cap 3 is provided with an inwardly extending flange which fits over the upper side of the upper plate 100 of the annular support, to hold the annular support 10 stationary relative to the sleeve 2.

When the sleeve 2 is raised and lowered withrespect to the casing member 1, the sealing elements 7 are also raised and lowered. When the sealing members are in their raised position, the enlarged portions 7d at their out of the way positions, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The enlarged portions or circular ring sectors 7 b are provided at their under sides with arcuate dovetail grooves 7 d into which extend arcuate dovetail tongues 8a of the stealing members 8 whereby the latter are removably connected to the former. The sealing members 8 are circular ring sectors of elastic compressible material, preferably rubber, or

" other compressible composition or material.

The sealing members 8 are slightly wider than the enlarged portions 7 which support them and the inner and outer arcuate sides project, respectively, inwardly and outwardly from the corresponding sides of their supporting portions 7". The arcuate inner sides of the sealing members are substantially cylindrical and are adapted to engage the drill stem or pipe 11, while the arcuate outer sides of said sealing members are inclined or conical and are adapted to engage the conical seats 1e of the tubular portion of the casing member 1. When the arms 7 are drawn upwardly, the inner sides of the portions 7 and the packing 8 embrace and grip the drill rod or pipe 11. When said arms so engage the drill rod or pipe 11, the beveled edges formed at the uncture between the upper faces of the circular ring sectors 76 and the peripheral cylindrical faces thereof, engage the beveled or conical seats 1d of the casing member 1; and, when said arms so engage the drill stem or pipe, the peripheral cylindrical faces at the outer sides of the circular ring sectors 7 b are spaced from the cylindrical wall-1c of the casing member 1, as shown.

Thus, it will be seen thatwhen the sealing members are raised from the position illus trated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the beveled edges 7e first engage the conical surfaces 1) forcing the lower ends of the sealing members radially inwardly. As the sealing elements are drawn further, the beveled edges 7e engage the slightly conical seat 1e forcuntil the resilient sealing members 8 engage such drill rod or pipe and the conical seats 1e; As the sealing elements are drawn still further upwardly so that the circular ring sectors or sockets 7b reach the end of the cylindrical portionlc, the beveled edges 1e engage the conical seat 1d forcing the periph? eral surfaces of the sockets inwardly from the cylindrical walls 10 to bring the inner sides of the lower ends of the arms 7 in engagement with the drill rod or pipe 11, and tightly compressing the sealing'members 8 against the drill pipe so that they are changedv from their expanded shapes, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, to their compressed shape shown by the full lines. When the sealing elements are drawn upwardly the maximum extent, the ends of the sealing members 8 are in tight abutted relation, as shown in the valve is operated to the dotted line posi- I Fig. 5. In the under sides of the sealing members 8 are large arcuate recesses 86 which vform relatively thin downwardly projecting side walls on the sealing members 8. The fluid pressure in the upper end of the well casing is adapted to act upon the packing 8 to cause it to seal against the drill rod or pipe, against the conical seat 1e, and at the abutted ends of the sealing members, thus tightly sealing the upper end of the well casing against the escape of fluid therefrom.

To the bowl portion of the casing member 1, is connected a pipe or pipes 12 which serve' as outlets for the fluid from the well which may be forced upwardly under pressure through the well casing while the latter is sealed off by the sealing head.

The sleeve 2, shown in Fig. 1, is forced upwardly by hydraulic pressure. In this instance the lower end of the sleeve 2 is mounted by a conductor 18. Fluid pressure is also ad-' for reciprocation in an annular cylinder opening between two spaced cylinder parts, the inner cylinder part being the tubular portion 16 and the outer cylinder part being an upward extension of the outer wallof the bowl portion of the casing member 1. To the lower end of the sleeve 2 is secured a double acting cup leather 13 which engages the opposite cylindrical walls between which it slides, the cup leather 13 being in annular form and extending around the whole of the lower end of the sleeve 2.

The lower end of the sleeve 2 is considerably wider than the main portion of the sleeve extending upwardly therefrom, there being provided an outwardly projecting flange forming an upwardly facing shoulder 26 near the lower end of the sleeve. The flange slidably engages the outer wall of the cylindrical opening to provide a chamber 1 above the shoulder 26. To the shoulder 26 is secured a cup leather 14 which extends upwardly and engages the inner wall of part 1g. To the upper end of the cylinder part 1 is secured a cap 15 which is sealed relative t ereto by a gasket lfi. To the inner side of the cap 15 is also secured a cup leather 17 which extends inwardly and engages the outer wall of the sleeve 2.

Fluid pressure is admitted to the lower end of the cylinder opening or chamber 1i mitted to the upper end of the cylinder opening or chamber 171. by a conductor 19. The passage of fluid through the] conductors 18 and 19 is controlled by a four-way valve 20 which is connected by'a' pipe-21 to a source of fluid under pressure and to a discharge pipe 22. When the valve 20 is in the position shown, the fluid under pressure is passed into the chamber 12' forcing the sleeve 2 upwardly and sealing or operating the casing head. When desiringto unseat the sealing mums and'to force the sleeve 2 downwardly,

tion, to pass fluid under pressure into the chamber 1k and discharge the fluid from the chamber In.

In the modified structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the sleeve 2 is operable by mechanical means. In this instance there is secured to two of the bolts 4 angle members or other suitable supports 26. To these angles or supports are pivoted arms 27. In the upper ends of the arms 27 is rotatably mounted a' rod or shaft 28. The shaft 28 may be connected, by a universal joint 29, to a long rod 30 extending a considerable distance from the casing head. To the outer end of the rod 30 is connected a manually operated lever 31 which is adapted to be engaged and .held by a quadrant 32 when in its operated position. To the shaft or rod 28 is fixedly secured a pair of arms 33 which are pivoted at their outer ends on trunnions 34 extending 'to diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve 2.

When the lever 32 is moved through an arc of approximately forty-five degrees, the sleeve is raised to its extreme up or raised position, as shown in Fig. 8.

Though we have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, and a certain modification-thereof, we do not wish to 9 be limited to this specific construction, combination and arrangement, nor to the modification, but desire to include in the scope of our invention the constructions, combinations andarrangements that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. In a means of the class described, the combination, of an enclosure to be mounted at the upper end of a well casing, the upper, portion of the enclosure being of smaller diameter than the lower portion, a support surrounding the upper portion of the enclosure and movable vertically thereon, sealing members carried by the support and projecting into the enclosure and sealing portions on the lower ends of the members lo-- cated normally in the enlarged lower end] of the enclosure and adapted to be forced into the upper smaller. portion of the enclosure when said support is drawn upward ly therefrom. r Y

2. In a meansof'the class described, the 120 combination, of an enclosure to be mounted at the upper end of the well casing, the upper portion of the enclosure being of smaller internal diameter than the lower portion and being provided with an upwardly converg- 125 ing conical seat, a support-surrounding the upper portion of the enclosure and movable vertically thereon, arms depending from the support and projecting into the enclosure,

7 tending upwardly from the well casing, said arms located normally within the enlarged portion of the enclosure, said sealing members being adapted to be forced against said conical seat to be moved inwardly when said support is raised.

3. In a means of the class described, an enclosure adapted to be secured to the upper end of a well casing, a supporting member surrounding the upper portion of said enclosure and movable Vertically thereon, a plurality of sealing members in the enclosure and pivotally connected to the supporting member so as to be contractible relative to each other upon the upward movement of the supporting member, and sealing portions on the lower ends of the sealing members yieldable and resilient for seal ng the space between the enclosure and a drill pipe extending upwardly from the well casing upon contraction of the member.

4. In a means of the class described, the combination with a well casing, of an enclosure at the upper end of thewell casing,the upper portion of the enclosure being of smaller internal diameter than the lower portion, a support surrounding the upper portion of theenclosure and movable vertically thereon,

' a plurality of arms pivotally carried by the support, and projecting downwardly into the enclosure and sealing members at the lower ends of the arms normally located'in the enlarged lower end'of the enclosure and adapted to be forced into the upper smaller portion ofthe enclosure when said support is moved upwardly, said sealing members being yieldable and resilient for sealing the space etween the enclosure and a drill pipe extending upwardly from the well casing. 5. In a means'of the'class described, an enclosure adapted to be secured to the upper end of a well casing, a supporting member mounted for vertical movement on the upper portion of said enclosure, and a plurality of member and contractibl relative to each other with the upward movement of the supporting member, said sealing members being ieldable andresilient for sealing the space tween the enclosure and a-drill pipe exsealing members having at their under sides upwardly extending recesses for admitting fluid under pressure from the well casing Y for expanding said sealing members against the enclosure, the drill pipe and against each other.

6. In a means of the class described, the combination with a--well casing, of an enclosure at the upper end of the well casing,

the upper portion of the enclosure being of smaller diameter than the lower portion, a support at the upper portion of the enclosure and movable vertically with respect thereto, sealing members carried by the support and having at their lower ends sealing portions other.

located normally in the enlarged lower end ofthe enclosure and adapted to beforced into the upper smaller diameter portion when said support is drawn upwardly therefrom, said sealing members being yieldable and resilient for sealing the space between the enclosure and a drill pipe extending upwardlyfrom the well casing, said sealing members having at their under sides upwardly extending recesses for admitting fluid under pressure from the well casing for expanding said sealing members against the enclosure, .the drill pipe and against each other.

7.-In a means of the class described, the combination with a well casing, of an enclosure at the upper end of the upper end of the casing, and a plurality of yieldable and resilient sealingmembers in the form of circular ring sectors located within the enclosure and adapted to seal the space between said enclosure and a drill pipe extending upwardly from the well casing, said sealing members having at their under sides upwardly extending recesses for receiving fluid under pressure from the well casing for expanding the sealing members against said' enclosure, said drill pipe and against each 8. In a means of the class described, the combination with a well casing, of an enclosure having a relatively large lower cylindrical portion, a. gradually inclined conical seat, a conical surface connectingthecylindrical portion with the conical seat, a cylindrical wall portion upwardly from the conical seat, and a short upwardly converging conical seat at the upper end of the latter cylindrical portion, a support movable longitudinally with respect to the enclosure and sealingelements depending from the support having enlarged sealing portions at their lower endsv andadapted normally to be located 'in the enclosure below the first conical seat, said sealing portions being adapted to engage said conical surface, said first conical seat, said second cylindrical wall portion and said short second conical seat when the sealing elements are drawn upwardly, the lower portion of the sealing portions engaging the first conical seat and the drill pipe adapted to extend upwardly from the well casing.v

9. In a means of the class described, the combination with a well casing, of an enclosure having a relatively large lower cylindrical portion, a gradually inclined conical seat, a conical surface connecting the cylindrical portion with the conical seat, acylindrical wall portion upwardly from the conical seat, and a short upwardly converging conical seat atthe upper end of the latter cylindrical portion, a support movable longitudinally with respect to the enclosure, seal- 7 ing elements depending from said support and comprising arms having circular ring sectors at the lower ends and yieldable sealing members in the form of circular ring sectors secured to the lower ends of the sectors of the arms, the sectors of the arms being adapted to engage said conical surface, said first conical seat, said second cylindrical wall, and said short conical seat upon upward movement of said support, the engagement of the sectors of the arms with the second conical seat forcing the sectors of the arms inwardly around a drill pipe extending upwardly from the well casing, and said yieldable sealing members engaging said first conical seat and said drill pipe.

10. In a means of the class described, the

combination with a well casing, of an enclosure at the upper end of the well casing, a support slidably mounted on the enclosure for vertical movement, a plurality of sealing members depending from said support and movable with said support relative to said enclosure, and means for moving said sealing members into engagement with an object passing through the enclosure when said support is moved upwardly.

11. In a means of the class described, a casing having an enlarged portion at its lower end and a constricted open portion at its upper end and spaced apart cylindrical walls at its upper end, a sleeve reciprocally mounted between the spaced apart cylinders and extending upwardly therefrom, a support carried by the sleeve, and sealing members depending from the support into the casing.

12. In a means of the class described, a casing having an enlarged portion at its lower end and a constricted open portion at its upper end and spaced cylindrical walls at its upper end, a sleeve reciprocally mounted between the said spaced walls and extending upwardly therefrom, a supportcarried by the sleeve. arms depending from the support, and yieldable sealing members secured to the lower ends of the arms, said sealing members being normally located in the enlarged portion of the casing and adapted when forced upwardly by said sleeve to enter said constricted portion of the casing.

13. In a means of the class described, a casing adapted to be secured to a casing head and provided with a seat therein,- a sleeve reciprocally mounted in an annular cylinder opening in the casing and projecting upwardly therefrom, sealing members connected with the projecting end of the sleeve and adapted to be forced upwardly into sealing engagement with said seat, and fluid pressure means for reciprocating said sleeve.

14. A control device of the character described including, a tubular body adapted to be mounted at the upper end of a well casing,

a support vertically movable on the exterior of the body, a plurality of arms pivotallythe lower ends of the arms, means for forcing the sealing means inwardly upon upward movement of the support, and means for holding the arms and sealing means in out inoperative positions prior to'upward movement of the support.

15. A device of the character described including, a tubular body adapted to be mounted on a well casing, a support movable vertically on the body,- the support normally having its upper end adjacent thempper end of the body, arms pivotally' connected to the upper end of the support and depending into the body, packing means on the arms operable to seal between the inner walls of the body and an object extending through the body upon upward movement of the support, and lugs on the arms adapted to cooperate with the upper end of the body to hold the arms and packing means inoperative when the support is in the normal unactuated position.

16. A device for use on a well-casingincluding, a tubular body adapted to be mounted on the well casing, the body having an internal inclined seat, and expansible'sealing members in the body operable to positions where they'seal between the seat and an object extending through the body, there being recesses in the ends of the sealing members adapted to receive fluid under pressure from the interior of the body to expand the members.

17. A device for use on a well casing including, a tubular body adapted to be mounted on the well casing, the body having an internal inclined seat and expansible sealing members in the body operable to positions where they seal between the seat and an object extending through the body, there being recesses in the lower ends of the sealing members adapted to receive fluid under pressure from the interior of the body tov expand the members against the seat and object.

18. A device for use on a well casing including, a tubular body adapted to be mounted on the well casing, the body having an internal inclined seat, and expansible sealing members in the body operable to positions where they seal with the said seat, there being recesses in the lower ends of the sealing members adapted to receive fluid under pressure to expand the members against the seat.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Ventura, California, this 21st day of February, 1930.

MAX L. VALLENDOR. PAUL C. FLY. 

